bass drum
The bass is the heartbeat of the band. The bass drum is usually pitched one octave below the bass drone of the bagpipes and sets the pace of the music as well as adding the harmonic bottom tone of the band. The bass drummer must have an excellent sense of rhythm. Generally, the bass drum provides a steady pulse, playing on the downbeat and on the strong beats of the bar, although the bass can also provide syncopation to parts of the score. A good bass drummer will set a strong groove for the band that unifies the pipers and drummers to play together as a strong ensemble. There is a good reason the bass drummer plays in the middle of the entire band. They keep everyone playing together as a unit.
Unlike bass drummers in other marching bands, a pipe band bass drummer plays with large soft beaters in an up and down swaying motion. Rather than playing every note at the same volume level, the bass drummer will vary the strengths of the beats, adding depth and dynamics to the melody.
Pipe bands usually have only one bass drum, though some have been known to have two. For this reason, it's a good idea for anyone interested in the bass drum to also learn tenor so that if a given pipe band already has a bass drummer, the learner can swap between bass and tenor as needed.
PRICE: UPDATE: Not currently taking new students at this time. Please check back!
Unlike bass drummers in other marching bands, a pipe band bass drummer plays with large soft beaters in an up and down swaying motion. Rather than playing every note at the same volume level, the bass drummer will vary the strengths of the beats, adding depth and dynamics to the melody.
Pipe bands usually have only one bass drum, though some have been known to have two. For this reason, it's a good idea for anyone interested in the bass drum to also learn tenor so that if a given pipe band already has a bass drummer, the learner can swap between bass and tenor as needed.
PRICE: UPDATE: Not currently taking new students at this time. Please check back!
